Do you ever feel overwhelmed when you walk into a furniture store or are browsing on an online furniture store website? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. With all the different colors, styles, fabrics, names brands, prices, and materials, it can feel like you just got hit with a ton of bricks

But maybe choosing furniture isn’t really as hard as we think it is. There are 3 easy steps to take to know beforehand what to look for. That way when you’re surfing the web or visiting your local furniture store, you know exactly what you want and won’t end up walking around for hours trying to decide.

The steps are as follows:
1. Choose a style.
2. Choose the color(s).
3. Choose the shade of wood you want.

These steps seem pretty simple, right? Yet, online you will find (what feels like) too many different styles to choose from. But I will simplify it for you here for the moment. Basically, many of the styles can be put into four categories: Modern, Contemporary, Rustic, and Chic. So what are you looking for? Are you needing to add that contemporary twist into your home or maybe that rustic feel? First, we need to understand what these different styles really mean.

The Modern Style is what we would consider being from the 19th century till today. It comes about because of the art style, modernism. The furniture is more of a practical nature and is meant to not be excessive. Especially after World War II, when not many people had an excess of anything. It is usually compact and multifunctional, making it perfect for apartments and smaller homes.

The Contemporary Style ranges from the late 20th century to now. It has the sharper, crispier, clean lines. The style is constantly changing with the times and styles that people like today. It is characterized by more design oriented furniture instead of practicality.

The Rustic Style is what most people would consider farmhouse or cabin furniture. It is a lot of wood and wrought iron decorations and furniture. It also has many dull colors: grays, reds, and browns. It is perfect if you like the country feel.

The Chic style is more bright pastel colors with floral designs. It is also very popular in today’s world. Many people like the distressed look that you find with chic furniture.

Once you decide on a style then you move to the colors you want in your home. Colors play on one’s emotions. Brighter colors signal more urgency and fun, while duller hues are more homely and relaxing. The specific color can play on your feelings as well. Some extra research can help with that!

Lastly, you need to know what shade of wood you want on your furniture. There are three basic shades: light, medium, and dark. They all complement each style well so this is just a personal choice. Whether you like the natural look or a darkened mahogany look.

After you have decided on these three things you can easily walk into any furniture store and find what you want because you know what you want it to look like and if it will match with all your other furniture pieces. Have fun and enjoy your next furniture shopping spree with these 3 tips.

As we’re all too aware, choosing the right furniture for your home can be a lengthy process, though ultimately pleasurable when you eventually get the job done. It’s about falling in love with particular pieces that will not only transform your home, but also effectively tell your story to all those who are a guest in your home.

Below we have compiled a few different tips on how to make sure that you select the right furniture for your home absent any major issues along the way.

All in all, take your time and try not to rush the process. It can be stressful and it is all too easy to grow impatient and rush into big decisions. Just remember that there is a wealth of resources out there, giving you access to all manner of delightful pieces for your home. Enjoy it!

Step 1 – Construction:
One of the most fundamental steps in selecting the right furniture for your home is ensuring that the piece feels sturdy and heavy. You should avoid light aluminium frames and stick to solid wood construction, given that wood is renowned for lasting much longer and sets the standard when it comes to fine quality furniture. That being said, it is important that the price is consistent with your expectations – it’s no good spending over the odds if the piece in question isn’t designed to last a lifetime, or at least comes with an attractive guarantee.

Step 2 – Shape:
Shape or ‘silhouette’ is the general shape of the piece that you are looking at. Is it a trendy, modern piece or something that will surely stand the test of time? It all depends on how often you tend to update or renovate your home and what sort of style of décor you are going for. Our advice is to choose a shape that you love now, but will also thoroughly enjoy in the future. There is nothing worse than buying a piece of furniture that you grow tired of after a few short months or a year. Either way, regardless to the style of furniture that you desire, you will find a wealth of incredible, well priced and top quality furniture all over the market.

Step 3 – Finish:
With any exposed wood you need to ensure that the finish has been added appropriately. It’s all very well having the right colour, though you must make sure that the stain and lacquer is designed to withstand a lot of use. Also, it is important to note that just because a particular piece of furniture that you love doesn’t come in your desired colour or finish, you can always opt to have it re-conditioned. Often it is better to go with your gut and order a piece because you love the shape and solid build, and then have it conditioned in your desired colour and finish.

Step 4 – Fabric:
Fabric is one of the most important factors to consider when renovating or decorating your home. For example, lighter coloured fabrics are appropriate for the living area, bedroom or a guest room. Then again, if this particular piece of furniture is something that will be frequently used, then we would suggest using a slightly darker colour perhaps. The key is to plan thoroughly and consider every possibility.

Step 5 – Personality:
Opt for furniture that stands out with an element of personality. Your personal style should be reflected in your furniture and the way that you design and layout your home. It’s all very well being practical, and for the most part you should definitely strive to be so – though at the same time, you need to breathe a little life and memorable décor into your home.

Rattan is closely related to the palm tree and usually grows in South East Asia. As it’s considered to be one of the world’s strongest and most workable woods, it’s ideal for making wicker furniture; wicker being the ancient weaving technique, not the material itself.

Although genuine rattan is often favoured aesthetically, it’s susceptible to mould and simply doesn’t last as long as synthetic rattan when exposed to the elements. For this reason, it’s better suited to indoor use only, meaning it can be a bit of a one trick pony. Synthetic rattan, on the other hand, has a greater deal of durability and weather-resistance, meaning it’s equally suited to both indoor and outdoor use. If you have the space to bring your furniture inside when the weather is at its worst then this may not be something you need to consider. However, if you’d prefer your furniture to be left outdoors all year round, synthetic rattan may be the better option for you.

Craftsmanship

You’ll need to consider the quality of the materials and construction if you require truly hardwearing, solid furniture that will last you for decades to come. Raucord rattan is weatherproof, UV and temperature resistant, colourfast and scratch-free, meaning it’s the superior choice when considering synthetic rattan, although all synthetics should offer a good level of weather-resistance. UV protection is the key feature to look out for or your furniture will become brittle, crack, and/or fade after exposure to the sun.

You should also ensure that your rattan furniture is built over a sturdy, corrosion-free aluminium frame instead or a steel one which will rust if left outdoors.

You’ll also need to consider the weave. Loose weave wicker will likely unravel and look unsightly, so choose a tighter weave and ensure there are no protruding fibres or rough edges.

Low Maintenance

Both natural and synthetic rattan furniture require very little care other than a spot of cleaning every so often. However, as natural rattan offers less weather-resistance, synthetic rattan is much easier to maintain overall. To clean, you can use warm, soapy water or simply hose your furniture down.

You should also look for high-quality cushions that can be left outside for most of the year, even in rainfall. However, to keep them clean and lasting longer, cushions should be stored during inclement weather conditions and throughout the winter.

Your Space

Consider the style of your garden and any pre-existing furniture you may have. You’ll want your furniture to be in keeping with the overall look and feel of your space. You can find rattan furniture that’s traditional or contemporary in style so it can easily be incorporated into your space. Consider the function of your furniture – are you looking for a rattan dining set for fine al fresco dining, or a luxury lounger to soak up the sun’s rays? And, though this may seem obvious, be sure to measure your space to ensure your furniture will fit properly as you want to avoid overcrowding.

Steven Watts is a passionate blogger and store manager at Corido Garden Furniture, a leading teak and rattan garden furniture supplier in the UK. Here you can find a wide range of elegant, comfortable and durable furniture to decorate your outdoor space. Click to buy rattan furniture online at great prices.

If your dining room is used only for holidays because it seems too formal, cold, and uninviting, you are losing an important part of your home. Cozy may not be a term commonly used when describing a dining room, but many people these days want to dine in a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. A few simple changes can create a warm, cozy space fit for holiday entertaining as well as everyday meals.

One way to make your dining room seem welcoming is to add some wood elements. Dining room tables and chairs are traditionally made of wood, and for good reason. Wood is a gorgeous material that bestows a pleasantly warm look to both modern and traditional interior design and décor.

Stylish, practical, and appealing, this natural material’s durability and beauty make it easy to use in any type of interior design. Solid wood pieces add quality to home décor while creating a special atmosphere of relaxing luxury and ultimate comfort. However, there are many stylish ways to add the warmth of wood that also keep your space from feeling overly formal and intimidating.

Of course, wood is a traditional element for dining room chairs, and for good reason. The play of natural wood tones and earthy colors in a bright, white dining room keep it from seeming too cold and impersonal. Mixing cool white with warm wood tones makes the space look fresh and bright. A natural fiber area rug will keep the palette neutral, or you can go bold with a pop of color or geometric pattern on the floor.

You can also use wooden chairs to lighten up a dark room. Light creates warmth and a dark room with no light can seem gloomy and forbidding, not really the feel you want for your dining room. If the walls and ceiling of your dining room are dark, wood chairs with cream upholstered seats will help keep the mood warm and friendly.

An eclectic dining space with many diverse elements that sometimes seem to vie for the viewers’ attention can be warmed up by the addition of some matching wood chairs. When there is so much going in a space, some simple design elements will give the eye a chance to rest. The various patterns, textures, and colors need to balanced to make the look cohesive.

Another way to go is to play with styles by mixing and matching contrasting elements. Traditional wood chairs work well with a chic pendant lamp and playful pictures on the walls. Or you can mix and match styles of chairs or materials. For instance, try mixing metal, industrial style chairs with some wood chairs. This combination of hard and soft elements give the space a casual, lived-in look.

Industrial style is not always popular in dining rooms, since a warmer look is generally preferred. However, if the rest of your home is industrial, mixing metal and wood elements in the dining room will help the room blend with the rest of your home.

Once you’ve chosen your table and chairs, the accessories will add the finishing touches. You can increase the drama by hanging long curtains in a rich color such as deep purple or burgundy, or you can keep it neutral with cream-on-cream or gray-on-gray drapes and area rug.

Whether you use your dining room once in a while for entertaining, or every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the key to good design is balance. For instance, if you decide to hang a large and opulent chandelier, keep the table and dining room chairs simple. There is a danger of all that crystal making the room feel too cold, so a wood table and chairs will make it feel warm. But bottom line is, if it feels like home to you, your design has succeeded.

Founded in 1968, Baer’s Furniture is the Florida Headquarters for Tommy Bahama Furniture and Florida-inspired living. Their business success is based offering famous, quality brands at great discounts. Baer’s Furniture stores serve south and central Florida with 16 locations from Orlando to Miami and Sarasota to Stuart. Find Baer’s Furniture on Pinterest for more design inspiration.